A robust and secured adaptive image watermarking using social group optimization

• Published in: The Visual computer 2023-10, Vol.39 (10), p.4839-4854
• Main Authors: Garg, Preeti, Rama Kishore, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Artificial Intelligence; Computer Graphics; Computer Science; Data encryption; Digital watermarks; Discrete cosine transform; Discrete Wavelet Transform; Embedding; Encryption; Heuristic; Heuristic methods; Image Processing and Computer Vision; Intellectual property; Multimedia; Optimization; Optimization techniques; Original Article; Robustness (mathematics); Security systems; Signal to noise ratio; Watermarking; Wavelet transforms
• ISSN: 0178-2789; 1432-2315
• DOI: 10.1007/s00371-022-02631-x

Watermarking is the process of inserting concealed data into carrier data to authenticate the owner of the material. To achieve optimal performance, we present an intelligent system for watermarking that combines a meta-heuristic method with an embedding technique. The suggested work proposes a blind watermarking technique that embeds the watermark bits in the best location of discrete cosine transform blocks while taking advantage of the discrete wavelet transform's features. To safeguard the embedded watermark, a two-step security mechanism is used: first, the column values are shuffled using a proposed shuffling algorithm, and then the scrambled watermark is encrypted using the Arnold encryption scheme. The primary goal of any watermarking technology is to protect embedded data from various attacks while maintaining the carrier data's quality. By tailoring the embedding site for watermark encapsulation, the recommended technique achieves an acceptable balance of these two characteristics known as imperceptibility and resilience. A meta-heuristic algorithm based on human social behavior is employed to optimize the placement. The social group optimization (SGO) algorithm is a new member of the family of meta-heuristic algorithms. No attempt has been made to include the social group optimization technique into applications for watermark embedding, to our knowledge. The SGO method can assist in striking a balance between various watermarking qualities. To demonstrate the utility of the suggested method, it is compared to a variety of existing watermarking techniques. The approach presented here is a robust solution that may be applied to a wide variety of multimedia applications, including telemedicine, media distribution, and security systems.